Never Ever Give Up!

Lang Lang is one of the most successful pianists of his generation. He performed before an audience of four and a half billion at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. He sells out concerts wherever he plays and is beloved by audiences world-wide. He was a child prodigy and extraordinary talent – yet he almost gave up playing the piano when he was nine years old.

This morning I listened to Desert Island Discs and was shocked to hear him recount the appalling story of how he was told by his piano teacher that he had no talent – that he would never make it and should give up playing the piano. So distraught was he by this rejection (and his father’s harsh response to his ‘failure’) that he even tried to destroy his hands by hitting them against a wall. It’s truly shocking, and awful to think that this phenomenal talent could have been extinguished and stamped out before it had the opportunity to flourish and be appreciated in the world.

If there was ever an example of how vital it is to persist in the face of criticism and rejection then surely this is it. Lang Lang was told he wasn’t good enough and advised to quit playing the piano. The original Harry Potter manuscript by J.K. Rowling was rejected umpteen times before it was finally published and became an instant best-seller. I believe that James Dyson faced criticism and rejection many times over before his vacuum cleaner was manufactured and was a runaway success.

Is there something you love and feel passionate about doing but you’ve given up because of negative comments or rejection by others? Is it actually any of their business?! Persist. Go for it. Whatever it is, we need it!

Feel free to leave a comment and let us know if there’s a dream you’ve let go of … Maybe you’ve had an idea and it’s been cricitised or dashed by others… You’ll find support here.

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